Following Galus Australis’ transition away from an online magazine to a Facebook based community group, the site was to be taken offline (on Friday 11 December).
However, as that date became closer, we received several requests …

Articles in Religion and Jewish Thought

Kapparot (or Kaporas כפרות) is an ancient Jewish ritual, performed prior to Yom Kippur. In recent times, this ritual has gained controversy due to the use of live chickens. In this video, Galus Australis’ resident …

By David Trakhtman
Once upon a time in Europe, there lived very creative and interesting people. Artists created paintings they wanted to create, musicians composed music they wanted to compose, writers wrote novels and poems they …

By Rabbi Meir Rabi
Rabbi Yosef Shalom Elyashiv has passed away. He has moved on to the next stage, the loftier stage of existence. I have heard it estimated that almost half a million people attended …

By Shyrla Pakula
On June 26 this year the District Court of the Federal State of Cologne, Germany, ruled that the circumcision of boys for religious reasons at the request of parents constituted the infliction of …

By Harold Zwier
A group of us have a shiur every Wednesday evening with Rabbi Meir Rabi. Recently we had a discussion about ethical behaviour and Halacha associated with food preparation. The topic generated an energetic …

By David Werdiger
Rabbi YD Groner OBM was often described as “larger than life”. He was an imposing character: large in size, strong in voice, autocratic in nature. From his arrival in Melbourne in the 1950s, he …

By Anthony Frosh
The Community Security Group (CSG) performs an important function for the Jewish community. In the current state of global affairs, the role of the CSG has become more vital than ever. The vast …

Here’s what you need to read about before Shabbes….
1) Osher on moustaches
2) Timmy being awesome at Jewish Care
3) Women destroying the (rabbinic) joint
4) Yaron on paranoia
***
1) From the inimitable Osher Gutnick:
‘I dropped in on mum on the …

By Alex Fein:
Hi all.
I’m back, taking over from Bracha, for another tour of duty as editor at this Melbourne Jewish institution.
Over the years, Galus has provided its readers with news, debate, and stories about Jewish …